Quick-Release Buckle with Fire Starting Components

ABSTRACT

A quick-release buckle with a fire starting components is an apparatus that readily provides a user with the tools to create a fire in emergency situations. The apparatus mainly comprises a first buckle portion, a second buckle portion, a fire ignition material, a friction plate, and a plurality of interlocking mechanisms. The first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are used as a fastener and engage each other through the interlocking mechanisms. The fire ignition material is struck upon the friction plate in order to create a fire among an incendiary substance. The friction plate is integrated into the first buckle portion, which allows the friction plate to be firmly held in place by grasping the first buckle portion. The fire ignition material is integrated into the second buckle portion, which allows the second buckle portion to be used to strike the fire ignition material against the friction plate.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 11/879,741 filed on Jan. 19, 2012. The current application is filed on Jan. 22, 2013 while Jan. 19, 2013 was on a weekend. The next business day is Jan. 22, 2013 while Jan. 20, 2013 was a weekend and Jan. 21, 2013 was a national holiday (Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus with a fire starter and a quick-release buckle. More specifically, the present invention allows portable fire starting components to be readily available for nearby fire creations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Creating a fire is an essential asset for surviving a wide range of conditions. However, most people who find themselves in survival situations do so unexpectedly. As a result, they do not typically carry conventional fire starting materials.

The use of fire starters is known in prior art. For example, one type of known fire starting tool is a magnesium block with a sparking insert attached to one side. However, the user must also have a knife in order to scrape off magnesium shavings. The knife may also be used to scrape the sparking insert rapidly in order to produce sufficient sparks to ignite the magnesium shavings. Although such magnesium blocks with sparking inserts may come equipped with a beaded chain to link to a keychain, they are not typically carried on an everyday basis.

Another type of known fire starting tool has a separate striker and starter linked together by a lanyard. Although the inclusion of a striker eliminates the need for a knife, the separate fire starting elements makes this fire starting tool bulkier than the magnesium block with a sparking insert. However, even though such a fire starting tool is a lanyard, this type of fire starting tool is still not typically carried on an everyday basis.

Another type of fire starting tool has been developed as a wearable fire starter in the form of a ring, bracelet, earring, or other wearable items. This wearable fire starting tool is designed to separate into multiple parts for fire starting. Although, this fire starting tool requires an individual to seek out and wear fire starting tools as jewelry. This device is also limited to articles that are worn.

Therefore, a need exists for a new piece of equipment that will both prepare one for survival needs such as starting fires and for other common fastening needs that are carried near one's person. Adding fire starting components to a slide release buckle opens a variety of various embodiments that an individual would use on an everyday basis while giving the individual the ability to create fires when needed. For example, the slide release buckles are utilized in many applications such as back packs, rock climbing gear, laptop bags, purses, zipper pulls, tents, helmets, and many other areas. In this respect, the slide release buckle with integrated fire starting components according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for enabling fire starting while still providing the utility of a buckle with it many uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved apparatus for carrying a fire starter and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawback of the prior art. The objective of the present invention is to provide an integrated improved fire starter with the utility of a slide release buckle that has all the advantages of the previously mentioned fire starting tools.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a sparking and/or combustible material that is assembled or joined with one side of a buckle and a friction element that is attached to the other mating side of the complete buckle assembly. A portion of the buckle may be constructed of combustible metal, such as magnesium. The sparking material may be made of ferrocerium or flint or other sparking elements. In addition, a composite material may be used such as a ferrocerium-magnesium combination for fire creation. The friction portion located on the other mating buckle may be made of high carbon steel or other material that will generate sparks or combustion when rubbed with the combustible or sparking portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are fastened to each other.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view for an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view for the alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are fastened to each other.

FIG. 6 is a back perspective view for the alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view for an asymmetric embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view for the asymmetric embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are fastened to each other.

FIG. 9 is a back perspective view for the asymmetric embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view for an additional accessories embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view for the additional accessories embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are fastened to each other.

FIG. 12 is a back perspective view for the additional accessories embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are not fastened to each other.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 3, the present invention is a quick-release buckle with fire starting components, which allows a user to readily access the tools that are needed to create a fire. The present invention can be attached on any apparatus that typically includes a buckle such as backpacks, gun slings, dog collars, briefcases, bag appendages, necklaces, footwear, helmets, etc. The present invention mainly comprises a first buckle portion 1, a second buckle portion 2, a fire ignition material 3, and a friction plate 4. The first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 fasten with each other in order to allow the present invention to clasp two objects together. The fire ignition material 3 is used to create a spark while striking the fire ignition material 3 against the friction plate 4 and is used ignite a fire among an incendiary substance such as dry leaves, cotton, jute twine, or firewood. In the preferred embodiment, the fire ignition material 3 is made of ferrocerium, and the friction plate 4 is made of steel. In another embodiment, the fire ignition material 3 is made of flint and the friction plate 4 is similarly made of steel. Ferrocerium is better as the fire ignition material 3 because ferrocerium creates hotter sparks than flint and because ferrocerium generate sparks/embers more readily than a flint and steel configuration. In addition, the fire ignition material 3 could be but not limited to magnesium, sulfur, potassium chlorate, and antimony sulfide. In order readily access the fire ignition material 3 and the friction plate 4, the present invention is configured so that the friction plate 4 is integrated into the first buckle portion 1 and the fire ignition material 3 is integrated into the second buckle portion 2. Therefore, the user can hold the first buckle portion 1 in order to stabilize the friction plate 4 as the user strikes the fire ignition material 3 against the friction plate 4 with the second buckle portion 2.

The first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 may take many forms such as but not limited to a single-handed adjustment type; ends with cross member for overlapping slip resistance of webbing or straps; cross members may or may not have raised features for slip resistance; no additional cross members; multiple locking systems; single or double adjustable constructions; heavy, medium, and light duty construction; contoured for curved surfaces; non-contoured; designed for shock; designed with other implements such as whistles and/or lights; buckles with split cross members often used for repair of broken buckles without having to rip any seams; high and low profile; center release and slide release; and so forth.

The components of the first buckle portion 1 are configured in order to efficiently integrate the fire ignition material 3 into the first buckle portion 1. The first buckle portion 1 comprises a first housing 11, a material guide 12, and an at least one first slot 13. The material guide 12 is used to receive the fire ignition material 3 as the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 are being fastened to each other, which allows the fire ignition material 3 to follow the material guide 12 and prevents the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 from crookedly fastening each other. Once the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 are fastened to each other, the material guide 12 is also used to properly brace the fire ignition material 3, to provide the fire ignition material 3 with additional strength against crush resistance, and to protect the fire ignition material 3 from the environment. The material guide 12 is adjacently positioned into the first housing 11, which is used as the structural base for the first buckle portion 1. The at least one first slot 13 traverses through the first housing 11 and is positioned opposite to the material guide 12. The at least one first slot 13 is used to attach the first buckle portion 1 to a piece of strapping material such as webbing or parachord. In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first slot 13 can comprise two separate slots, which would be used to loop the piece of strapping material through the first buckle portion 1 in a manner that allows the user to tighten or loosen the piece of the strapping material with the first buckle portion 1. The friction plate 4 is positioned adjacent to the at least one first slot 13, which prevents the friction plate 4 from interfering with the movement of the piece of strapping material.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the friction plate 4 is designed to protrude from the first buckle portion 1 so that the user can more easily strike the fire ignition element against the friction plate 4. Thus, the friction plate 4 comprises a situated section 41 and a jutting section 42, which are positioned adjacent to each other on the friction plate 4. The situated section 41 is connected onto the first housing 11, and the jutting section 42 is positioned adjacent to the first housing 11 so that the jutting section 42 protrudes off the first housing 11. The situated section 41 can be fixed to the second housing 21 by any fastening technique such as but not limited to adhesive, press fit, fasteners, and so forth. The jutting section 42 could also be raised off the first housing 11 in other embodiments of the present invention.

The components of the second buckle portion 2 are configured in order to efficiently integrate the friction plate 4 into the second buckle portion 2. The second buckle portion 2 comprises a second housing 21, a material attachment system 22, and an at least one second slot 23. The second housing 21 is used as a structural base for the second buckle portion 2. The fire ignition material 3 is attached adjacent to the second housing 21 by the material attachment system 22. The material attachment system 22 can be designed to detachably connect the fire ignition material 3 to the second housing 21 such as through a spring-pin configuration. Conversely, the material attachment system 22 can be designed to permanently connect the fire ignition material 3 to the second housing 21 by using an adhesive material such as glue. The at least one second slot 23 traverses through the second housing 21 and is positioned opposite to the fire ignition material 3. Similar to the at least one first slot 13, the at least one second slot 23 is used to attach the second buckle portion 2 to another piece of strapping material. In other embodiments of the present invention, the at least one second slot 23 can comprise two separate slots, which would be used to loop the other piece of strapping material through the two separate slots in a manner that allows the user to tighten or loosen the other piece of strapping material with the second buckle portion 2.

The present invention further comprises a plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5, which are used to separable fasten the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 with each other. The plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5 can be used to lock the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 together and then can be used to unlock and separate the first buckle portion 1 from the second buckle portion 2. When the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 are fastened to each other, the fire ignition material 3 is positioned amongst the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fire ignition material 3 is positioned in between two interlocking mechanisms 5. The material guide 12 will also be engaged by the fire ignition material 3, which provides the present invention with additional structural stability while the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 are fastened to each other. In the preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5 comprises a receiving receptacle 51, a lip 52, and a barbed protrusion 53. The barbed protrusion 53 is used to engage the receiving receptacle 51 while the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 are being fastened to each other. The barbed protrusion 53 locks onto the lip 52 once the first buckle portion 1 and the second buckle portion 2 are fastened to each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the components for the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5 is arranged so that the first buckle portion 1 is the female part of a buckle and the second buckle portion 2 is the male part of the buckle. This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1 through 3. For each of the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5, the receiving receptacle 51 traverses into the first buckle portion 1 and is positioned adjacent to the material guide 12. Also for each of the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5, the barbed protrusion 53 is connected to the second buckle portion 2 and is positioned adjacent to the fire ignition material 3. The lip 52 is indented into the back of the receiving receptacle 51 so that the barbed protrusion 53 can engage the lip 52 when the barbed protrusion 53 is traversing into the receiving receptacle 51.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the components for the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5 is arranged so that the first buckle portion 1 is the male part of a buckle and the second buckle portion 2 is the female part of the buckle. This embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 through 6. For each of the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5, the receiving receptacle 51 traverses into the second buckle portion 2 and is positioned adjacent to the fire ignition material 3. Also for each of the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5, the barbed protrusion 53 is connected to the first buckle portion 1 and is positioned adjacent to the material guide 12. Similarly, the lip 52 is indented into the back of the receiving receptacle 51 so that the barbed protrusion 53 can engage the lip 52 when the barbed protrusion 53 is traversing into the receiving receptacle 51.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the components of the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5 are arranged with an asymmetric configuration. For this embodiment, the plurality of interlocking mechanisms 5 comprises a first mechanism and a second mechanism, which mirror each other in terms of their configuration on the present invention. This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 7 through 9. The receiving receptacle 51 of the first mechanism traverses into the first buckle portion 1 and is positioned adjacent to the material guide 12. The barbed protrusion 53 of the first mechanism is connected to the second buckle portion 2 and is positioned adjacent to the fire ignition material 3. The lip 52 of the first mechanism is indented into the back of the receiving receptacle 51 of the first mechanism so that the barbed protrusion 53 of the first mechanism can engage the lip 52 of the first mechanism when the barbed protrusion 53 of the first mechanism is traversing into the receiving receptacle 51 of the first mechanism. Moreover, the receiving receptacle 51 of the second mechanism traverses into the second buckle portion 2 and is positioned adjacent to the fire ignition material 3. The barbed protrusion 53 the second mechanism is connected to the first buckle portion 1 and is positioned adjacent to the material guide 12 Likewise, the lip 52 of the second mechanism is indented into the back of the receiving receptacle 51 of the second mechanism so that the barbed protrusion 53 of the second mechanism can engage the lip 52 of the second mechanism when the barbed protrusion 53 of the second mechanism is traversing into the receiving receptacle 51 of the second mechanism.

As can be seen in FIG. 10 through 12, the present invention can further comprise a plurality of accessories 6 that will most like be used in outdoor survival situations. The plurality of accessories 6 includes but is not limited to a whistle, a compass, a reflector, and a retractable knife. Any of the plurality of accessories 6 can be connected to either the first buckle portion 1 or the second buckle portion 2 in such a way that any of the plurality of accessories 6 is efficiently integrated into the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A quick-release buckle with fire starting components comprises, a first buckle portion; a second buckle portion; a friction plate; a fire ignition material, wherein said fire ignition material is struck upon said friction plate in order to ignite a fire among an incendiary substance; said friction plate being integrated into said first buckle portion, wherein said friction plate is firmly held in place by grasping said first buckle portion; and said fire ignition material being integrated into said second buckle portion, wherein said second buckle portion is used to strike the fire ignition material against said friction plate.
 2. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said first buckle portion comprises a first housing, a material guide, and an at least one first slot; said material guide adjacently positioned into said first housing; said at least one first slot traversing through said first housing and being positioned opposite to said material guide; and said friction plate being positioned adjacent to said at least one first slot.
 3. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 2 comprises, said friction plate comprises a jutting section and a situated section; said jutting section and said situated section being positioned adjacent to each other on said friction plate; said situated section being connected onto said first housing; and said jutting section being positioned adjacent to said first housing.
 4. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said second buckle portion comprises a second housing, a material attachment system, and an at least one second slot; said fire ignition material being attached adjacent to said second housing by said material attachment system; and said at least one second slot traversing through said second housing and being positioned opposite to said fire ignition material.
 5. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 1 comprises, a plurality of interlocking mechanisms; each of said plurality of interlocking mechanisms comprises a receiving receptacle, a lip, and a barbed protrusion; said first buckle portion and said second buckle portion being separable fastened to each other by said plurality of interlocking mechanisms; said fire ignition material being positioned amongst said plurality of interlocking mechanisms; and a material guide of said first buckle portion being engaged by said fire ignition material.
 6. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 5 comprises, said receiving receptacle traversing into said first buckle portion adjacent to said material guide; said lip being indented into said receiving receptacle; said barbed protrusion being connected to said second buckle portion adjacent to said fire ignition material; and said barbed protrusion traversing into said receiving receptacle and engaging said lip.
 7. A quick-release buckle with fire starting components comprises, a first buckle portion; a second buckle portion; a friction plate; a fire ignition material, wherein said fire ignition material is struck upon said friction plate in order to ignite a fire among an incendiary substance; said friction plate being integrated into said first buckle portion, wherein said friction plate is firmly held in place by grasping said first buckle portion; and said fire ignition material being integrated into said second buckle portion, wherein said second buckle portion is used to strike the fire ignition material against said friction plate.
 8. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 7 comprises, said first buckle portion comprises a first housing, a material guide, and an at least one first slot; said material guide adjacently positioned into said first housing; said at least one first slot traversing through said first housing and being positioned opposite to said material guide; and said friction plate being positioned adjacent to said at least one first slot.
 9. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 8 comprises, said friction plate comprises a jutting section and a situated section; said jutting section and said situated section being positioned adjacent to each other on said friction plate; said situated section being connected onto said first housing; and said jutting section being positioned adjacent to said first housing.
 10. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 7 comprises, said second buckle portion comprises a second housing, a material attachment system, and an at least one second slot; said fire ignition material being attached adjacent to said second housing by said material attachment system; and said at least one second slot traversing through said second housing and being positioned opposite to said fire ignition material.
 11. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 7 comprises, a plurality of interlocking mechanisms; each of said plurality of interlocking mechanisms comprises a receiving receptacle, a lip, and a barbed protrusion; said first buckle portion and said second buckle portion being separable fastened to each other by said plurality of interlocking mechanisms; said fire ignition material being positioned amongst said plurality of interlocking mechanisms; and a material guide of said first buckle portion being engaged by said fire ignition material.
 12. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 11 comprises, said receiving receptacle traversing into said second buckle portion adjacent to said fire ignition material; said lip being indented into said receiving receptacle; said barbed protrusion being connected to said first buckle portion adjacent to said material guide; and said barbed protrusion traversing into said receiving receptacle and engaging said lip.
 13. A quick-release buckle with fire starting components comprises, a first buckle portion; a second buckle portion; a friction plate; a fire ignition material, wherein said fire ignition material is struck upon said friction plate in order to ignite a fire among an incendiary substance; said friction plate being integrated into said first buckle portion, wherein said friction plate is firmly held in place by grasping said first buckle portion; and said fire ignition material being integrated into said second buckle portion, wherein said second buckle portion is used to strike the fire ignition material against said friction plate.
 14. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 13 comprises, said first buckle portion comprises a first housing, a material guide, and an at least one first slot; said material guide adjacently positioned into said first housing; said at least one first slot traversing through said first housing and being positioned opposite to said material guide; and said friction plate being positioned adjacent to said at least one first slot.
 15. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 14 comprises, said friction plate comprises a jutting section and a situated section; said jutting section and said situated section being positioned adjacent to each other on said friction plate; said situated section being connected onto said first housing; and said jutting section being positioned adjacent to said first housing.
 16. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 13 comprises, said second buckle portion comprises a second housing, a material attachment system, and an at least one second slot; said fire ignition material being attached adjacent to said second housing by said material attachment system; and said at least one second slot traversing through said second housing and being positioned opposite to said fire ignition material.
 17. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 13 comprises, a plurality of interlocking mechanisms; each of said plurality of interlocking mechanisms comprises a receiving receptacle, a lip, and a barbed protrusion; said first buckle portion and said second buckle portion being separable fastened to each other by said plurality of interlocking mechanisms; said fire ignition material being positioned amongst said plurality of interlocking mechanisms; and a material guide of said first buckle portion being engaged by said fire ignition material.
 18. The quick-release buckle with fire starting components as claimed in claim 17 comprises, said plurality of interlocking mechanisms comprises a first mechanism and a second mechanism; said receiving receptacle of said first mechanism traversing into said first buckle portion adjacent to said material guide; said lip of said first mechanism being indented into said receiving receptacle of said first mechanism; said barbed protrusion of said first mechanism being connected to said second buckle portion adjacent to said fire ignition material; said barbed protrusion of said first mechanism traversing into said receiving receptacle of said first mechanism and engaging said lip of said first mechanism; said receiving receptacle of said second mechanism traversing into said second buckle portion adjacent to said fire ignition material; said lip said of second mechanism being indented into said receiving receptacle of said second mechanism; said barbed protrusion of said second mechanism being connected to said first buckle portion adjacent to said material guide; and said barbed protrusion of said second mechanism traversing into said receiving receptacle of said second mechanism and engaging said lip of said second mechanism. 